Drop table



L. RICHARDSON Jan. 9, 1951 DROP TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 3, l194'? x @ma Jan.' 9, 1951 l.. RICHARDSON DROP TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1947 IIIIIII lill.

i L@ M i ,...l e M R W 9A IMI/IIA ATI'OR/VEY Jan. 9, 1951 RICHARDSON DROP TABLE Filed April 3, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 am?" T25 INVENTOR.

A WMA/0f H/CHA M50/yf T gam-.m BY

nv MM Jan.`9, 1951 RICHARDSON 2,537,372

DROP TABLE Filed April 5, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 @f 6@ lml A A JNVENTOR.

36 A WMA/cf @www0/1 4 Patented Jan. 9, 1951 UNITED i stares:

ATENT OFFICE= 19 Claims.

The invention relates to drop tables, and more particularly to improvements in drop tables. of the type disclosed in my prior patent, No. 2,097,- 133, dated Oct. 26, 1937.

One of the objects oi the invention is to simplify and improve the structural details of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the depth of the pit in connection with which the table is used may be reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved operating mechanism for the drop table.

In accordance with my invention the drop table comprises a table top including a pair of' longitudinal channel-.shaped girders connected by a pair of transverse rails for supporting wheels to ne serviced. The table top is provided with a plurality of legs, preferably arranged in pairs, which may be swung outwardly in opposite direc tions with reference to each other and when so extended the legs may be housed within the channeled girders forming part of the table top.

The legs of the table are adapted to 'ce actuated by means of screw jacks hingedly mounted within the channeled portions of the table top and aca tuated from any suitable .source of power, as an electric. motor.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in which a specic embodiment of the inventive thought is set forth by way of illustration rather than by limitation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the pit showing at one end (in full lines) a drop table in raised position and at the other end (in dotted lines) a drop table in collapsed position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a detail View showing a portion of one of the channel-shaped girders and the mounting of one of the legs and the screw jack thereon, the leg being shown in raised position;

Fig. 4 is a similar view but showing the leg collapsed and housed within the channel-shaped girder;

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail sectional views showing the mounting of the screw jack within the girder;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing in greater detail and on a larger scale the droptable illustrated at the right hand portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the top of the table and interconnected rods for actuating the pivoted jacks;

Fig. 9 is a similar plan view but on a. larger scale with portions of the top ofthe channeled girders to show the mechanism housed therein and the parts in collapsed position;

Fig. 10 isY a detail View showing one of' the threaded leg operating rods coacting with thev screw jack;

Fig. 11 is an elevational view of the screw jack;

Fig. 12 is a, sectional View of the same;

Fig. 13 is an elevation showing the pivoted cage carrier for the screw jack; and

Fig. 14 is a sectional View of the same.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A denotes a suitable pit which is. made as shallow as. possible and which is provided with vertical walls i0 andA bottom Il.

Coacting with the pit are a plurality of drop. tables B designed to facilitate removal of wheels and axles C. of a locomotive, Diesel engine, oj the like. v l

In accordance with my invention each drop table B comprises a pair of channeled girders or beams I2 of box-like cross section which are inH tended to house the table legs when the table is in collapsed position. Each girder includes a top wall I3, side walls Ill, and bottom inwardly directed flanges I5 extending from the side walls I4.

Bridging the beams or girders I2 are av pair of transverse rails IIS, It adapted to support ther wheels C to be serviced. The rails Ti extend beyond the girders I2 and their ends iit. into guides Il, I'I attached to the side walls II! of the pit, which guides may be similar to those shown in my prior Patent No. 2,097,133, which are intended for the same purpose. v

The drop table is provided with supporting legs I8 which are preferably arranged in pairs, two for each beam I2. These legs are swinging-ly mounted on hinges I9 within the channeled beams I2. As shown each beam is provided with two legs which are adapted to be swung outwardly in opposite directions from each other until they arev substantially completely housed within the channeled beams, as indicated at the leit in Fig. 1. The legs I8 are equipped with rollers 2e to permitthe table, when collapsed, to slide longitudinally on the door. tracks 2l being preferably provided for this purpose as Shown in prior .Patent NQ. 2,997,133. yIt will be apparent that as soon as' the ends of the tracks I6 have cleared the vertical; guides Il secured to the walls oi the pit the en.V tire table may be slid lengthwise, carrying thev wheels to be serviced therewith to the other end of the pit. f

For actuating the legs i8 suitable threaded rods are provided, each rod 25 being pivoted at 26 to its leg I3 which is preferably channel-shaped in cross section to permit the pivot to be mounted within the channel. The rods 25 are threaded substantially throughout their lengths and coact with internally threaded operating nuts or jack members 2l carried by cage or bracket member 28 which is swingingly mounted on trunnions 29 within the channeled beams l2 of the drop table top. The jack member 2l is adapted to rotate within the cage but cannot slide therein. Itd will be noted that the tops of the beams l2 are suitably slotted as at 4c adjacent each of their ends to permit the ends of the rods 25 and the ends of the jack members 2 to swing therein and project therethrough.

The jack member 2l is provided with a bevel gear 3U rigid therewith which is adapted to be engaged by a pinion 3l mounted upon a shaft 32 projecting inwardly through the side wall of the channel l2 and through one of the trunnions 29 of the pivoted cage or bracket member 28. Preferably an idler pinion 33 is carried by the other trunnion 29 and meshes with the bevel gear 30 of the jack member 2l'.

The shaft or rod 2 may be actuated from any suitable source of power, as, for example, electric motor 35,'which may be mounted on brackets carried by one of the beams l2. Similar operating means may be provided for each of the table legs I8, each such operating means including a threaded actuating rod 25 cooperating with hingedly mounted jack members 2l.

As best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the jack operating shafts or rods 32 may extend transversely across the pit and simultaneously actuate a pair of swinging jack members. Likewise the two rods 32 at opposite ends of the table may be interconnected by means of longitudinally extending shafts 36 carried by brackets 3l on the table top and connected with the shafts 32 by suitable gearing 38.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the foregoing description. Assuming the parts are in the position shown at the right in Fig. l with the table raised, the electric motor may be started in the proper direction, thus actuating the jack operating rods 32 which in turn actuate the pinions 3l, bevel gears 30 and jack members 2l', thereby causing the threaded shafts 25 connected to the table legs i8 to move through the pivotally mounted jack members 21 and in turn drawing the pairs of table legs i8 outwardly in opposite directions and at the same time collapsing the table top. When the table top is completely lowered the threaded operating members 25 will have assumed nearly upright positions and will extend upwardly through the tops of the girders. When the table top has been lowered the ends of the tracks i6 will have cleared the guides I1 in the walls of the pit and the table may then be moved longitudinally to the position shown at the left of Fig. 1, thus permitting access to the wheels carried thereon for servicing the same.

To replace the wheels the table top B is slid from the left hand to the right hand end of the pit and when in position beneath the locomotive or the like the electric motor is started to actuate the pivoted screw jacks and thereby move the pairs of legs i8, i8 toward one another to substantially vertical position. Suitable means (not shown) may be provided to insure stopping of the carriage at the proper position below the locomotive to which the wheels are to be applied.

From the foregoing it will be seen that my invention provides a drop table in which the supporting legs I8 and their actuating rods 25 are so mounted as to adapt the legs to swing substantially through an arc of 90 from a perpendicular (vertical) supporting position to a substantially horizontal folded position, in which folded position the legs may be brought to lie, if so desired, in the plane of the table, leaving only the wheels or rollers 2G exposed for a running action. This allows the table to be collapsed in closed compass so that the legs and rods when folded will be rmly braced to sustain the load and so that the height of the table, when elevated, and the depth of the pit, may be reduced, as compared Y with prior drop tables, with the result of simplifying the construction and reducing the cost of construction of these parts.

The invention has been described in detail for the purpose of illustration but it will be obvious that numerous modications and variations may be restorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A drop table for servicing the wheels and axles of locomotives and the like comprising an oblong rectangular table top carrying transverse track rails thereon and longitudinally extending channeled members having their channels facing y downwardly, pairs of upright supporting legs for said table top hingedly connected at their upper ends to the table at points respectively located adjacent to the respective track rails to adapt the legs to swing outwardly from vertical supporting positions longitudinally of and toward the ends of the table and to fold into said channels in a table collapsing action, and means for simultaneously swinging said legs in opposite directions to support or collapse the table.

2. A drop table for servicing the wheels and axles of locomotives and the like comprising an oblong rectangular table top carrying transverse track rails thereon, sets of upright supporting' legs for said table top hingedly connected at their upper ends to the table top adjacent to therails so as to swing outward longitudinally of the table toward the ends of the table from vertical supporting positions to substantially horizontal fold? ing positions beneath the table top, and means for simultaneously swinging said legs in opposite directions from their supporting positions to collapse the table, said means comprising rotatablenuts pivotally connected to the table top adjacent the ends thereof and extension rods pivoted at their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs and in threaded engagement at their upper ends with the nuts.

3. A drop table of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinal beams of inverted channel cross section, and transverse track members connecting the beams, supporting legs for said table arranged in oppositely moving pairs, the legs of the respective pairs being pivoted at their upper ends within the channels of said beams at points spaced inwardly from the ends of the beams and located in proximity to the outer sides of the track members, threaded operating rods for said legs pivotally connected at their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs, and internally threaded jack members for said rods-v swingingly mounted in said channels adjacent the ends of the beams at a distance from the pivot points of said legs adapting the legs to swing outwardly in opposite directions from each other` and to fold within the channels in a collapsing action of the table.

4. A drop table of the character described, com-- prising a pair of longitudinal beams of inverted channel cross section, and transverse track mem,-v bers connecting the beams, supporting legs for said table arranged in oppositely moving pairs, the legs of the respective pairs being pivoted within the channels oi said beams at points remote from the ends of the beams and adjacent to the said track members, threaded operating rods for said legs pivoted at their lower ends to the opposite ends of the legs, internally threaded jack members for said rods swingingly mounted in said channels adjacent the ends of the beam and at a distance from the pivot points of said legs such as to adapt the legs to swing in opposite directions to folded positions beneath the beams, and means for simultaneously actuating said jack members.

5. A drop table of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinal beams of inverted channel cross section, and transverse track members connecting the beams on opposite sides of the transverse centers of the beams and spaced inwardly from the ends oi the beams, supporting legs for said table arranged in oppositely moving pairs, the legs of the respective pairs being pivoted at their upper ends within the channels of said beams at points adjacent to the outer sides of the track members, threaded operating rods for said legs pivoted at their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs, and internally threaded jack members for said rods swingingly mounted in said channels adjacent the endsof the beamsv and at a distance from the pivot points of said legs such as to adapt the legs to be swung outwardly in opposite directions beneath the beams, said beams having slots in their top portions to permit passage of the free ends of the threaded rods. Y

6. A drop table of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinal beams of inverted channel cross section, and transverse track members connecting the beams, supporting legs for said table arranged in oppositely moving pairs, the legs of each pair being pivoted at their upper ends within the channels of said beams at a distance inwardly from the ends of the beams and adjacent to said track members, threaded operating rods for said legs, internally threaded jack members for said rods swingingly mounted in said channels adjacent to the end of the beams and at a distance from the pivot points of said legs such as to adapt the legs to swing upwardly in opposite directions beneath the beams on a collapsing movement of the table, and vertical guide means for the ends of said tracks.

'7. A drop table of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinal beams of inverted channel cross section, and transverse track members connecting the beams, supporting 4legs for said table arranged in oppcsitely moving pairs, the legs of each pair being pivoted at their upper ends adjacent to said track members within the channels of said beams at a distance inwardly from the ends of the beams and adjacent to said track members, threaded operating rods for said legs pivoted at their lower ends of the legs, and internally threaded jack members for said rods swingingly mounted in said channels adjacent the ends of the beams and at a distance from the pivot points of said legs such as to adapt the legs to swing outwardly in opposite directions beneath the beams on a collapsing movement of the table, each oi the table legs having rollers to permit longitudinal movement of the. table when in collapsed position. f

8. A supporting leg for a drop table. comprising a supporting leg member swingingly con-` nected to the table, and means for swinging said leg member comprising an internally threaded rotatable jack member hingedly mounted en trunnions carried by the table at a distance from the pivot of said leg, an externally threaded legoperating rod coacting with said internally threaded member to move longitudinally there through on rotation of the internally threaded member, one end of the operating rod being connected to said leg at a distance from the pivot point thereof, and actuating means for rotating said swingingly mounted internally threaded member.

9. A drop table having supporting legs swings ingly connected thereto, and means for actuating said legs comprising internally threaded rotatable nuts journaled in brackets hingedly mounted on trunnions carried by the table at a distance from the pivots of said legs, externally threaded leg operating rods coacting with said threaded nuts to move longitudinally therethrough on rotation of said nuts, the iree ends oi'A comprising a pair of longitudinal beams of in-v verted channel cross section, and transverse track members connecting the beams, supporting legs for said table arranged in oppositely moving pairs, the legs of each pair being pivoted Within the channels of said beams, threaded operating rods for said legs, internally threaded nuts for said rods carried by brackets swingingly mounted on trunnions in said channels at a distance from the pivot points of said legs, and operating means for rotating said internally threaded nuts including gears on the nuts and gears meshing therewith and mounted on shafts extending through the trunnions of the brackets.

1l. A drop table of the character described, comprising a pair of longitudinal beams of inverted channel cross section, and transverse U track members connecting the beams, supporting legs for said table arranged in oppositely mov-` ing pairs, the legs of the pairs being pivoted at their upper ends within the channels of said beams adjacent said track members, threaded operating rods for said legs pivoted at their lower ends to the legs, internally threaded jack members for said rods comprising nuts rotatable in brackets swingingly mounted on trunnions in said channels at a distance from the pivot points ci said legs, gears on the nuts, gears journaled on the brackets and meshing with the iirst named gears and interconnected operating means for rotating the latter named gears in unison.

l2. In supporting means for a drop table, a supporting leg swingingly connected to the table, and actuating means for said leg, including comprising a nut and a bracket in which the nut is journaled to rotate, said bracket having trunnions pivotally supported by the table at a distance from the pivot point of said leg, a threaded rod coacting with said nut and movable longitudinally with reference thereto, said extensible member being pivoted to said leg at a distance from the pivot point thereof, and means for rotatng the nut.

internallyl 13. A drop table comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal beams and transverse track rails connecting the beams and arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of the transverse centers of the beams, supporting legs arranged in pairs and pivoted at their upper ends to the beams outwardly beyond and adjacent to the outer sides of the rails to swing outwardly in opposite directions beneath the ends of the beams in a collapsing movement of the table, brackets swingably mounted at the ends of the beams, nuts rotatably mounted in the brackets, threaded rods pivotally connected at their lower ends with the lower ends of the legs and in threaded engagement at their upper ends with the nuts, gear elements mounted on the nuts and brackets for rotating the nuts, and operating means for actuating the gear elements to swing the legs in unison for table raising and lowering actions.

14. A drop table comprising a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal channeled beams and transverse track rails connecting the beams and arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of the transverse centers of the beams, the channels in said beams being arranged to face downwardly, supporting legs arranged in pairs and pivoted at their upper ends to the beams within the channels thereof outwardly beyond and adjacent to the outer sides of the rails to swing outwardly in opposite directions beneath the ends of the beams and fold into the channels thereof in a collapsing movement of the table, brackets swingably mounted at the ends of the beams in the channels, nuts rotatably mounted in the brackets, threaded rods pivotally connected at their lower ends with the lower ends of the legs and in threaded engagement at their upper ends with the nuts, gear elementsmounted on the nuts and brackets for rotating the nuts, and operating means for actuating the gear elements to swing the legs in unison for table raising and lowering actions.

15. A drop table comprising a pair cf spaced parallel longitudinal beams and transverse track rails connecting the beams and arranged adjacent to and on opposite sides of the transverse centers of the beams, supporting legs arranged in pairs and pivoted at their upper ends to the beams outwardly beyond and adjacent to the outer sides of the rails to swing outwardly in opposite directions beneath the ends of the beams in a collapsing movement of the table, brackets swingably mounted at the ends of the beams, nuts rotatably mounted in the brackets, threaded rods pivotally connected at their lower ends with the lower ends of the legs and in threaded engagement at their upper ends with the nuts, gears on the nuts, gears carried by the brackets and meshing with the gears on the nuts, shafts connected with the gears of the brackets, and means for driving the shafts to swing the pairs of legs in unison for table raising and lowering actions.

16. A drop table including in combination an oblong rectangular platform, supporting legs pivoted to the platform at points adjacent to the transverse center of the platform and normally arranged in vertical position to hold the platform in an elevated position, and means for swinging said legs outwardly and upwardly toward the ends of the platform through an arc of approximately 90 relatively to their normal position beneath and substantially parallel with the platform to depress and support the platform in collapsed condition.

17. A drop table including in combination an oblong rectangular platform, transverse track rails at the center` of the platform, sets of supporting legs pivoted to the platform adjacent to and at opposite sides of the track rails and normally arranged vertically to support the platform in an elevated position, and gearing for simultaneously swinging the sets of legs outwardly from such positions longitudinally of the platform toa substantially. horizontal position beneath the platform to depress and support the platform in collapsed condition.

18. A drop table including in combination an oblong rectangular platform, supporting legs pivoted to the platform located inwardly from the ends of the platform and normally arranged vertically to support the platform in an elevated position, and raising and lowering means for the legs including swinging jacks operative to swing the legs outwardly toward the ends of the platform and dispose the same to lie substantially in the plane of the platform to depress the platform and support it in collapsed condition.

19. A drop table including in combination anoblong rectangular platform, transverse rails at the center of the platform, pvoted at their upper ends to the platform at opposite sides of the rails and at points located inwardly from the ends of the platform to swing outwardly in opposite directions outwardly and upwardly toward the ends of the platform from a normal vertical position in which the legs sup-A port the platform in an elevated position, andraising and lowering means for the legs operative to swing the legs connecting the lower ends of the legs with the ends of the platform and through an arc of substantially to fold the legs beneath the platform so as to depress the platform and support it in ycollapsed condition. LAWRENCE RICHARDSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS supporting legsV 

